LIKE every major centre in Britain, Salford in Greater Manchester has homeless people.

Officially Greater Manchester has 278 “entrenched” rough sleepers, but add in those whose state of homelessness fluctuates – sometimes having a place to sleep, sometimes not — and the number almost doubles.

Mayor Andy Burnham released funding to guarantee “a bed every night” for Greater Manchester’s homeless over winter.

But sometimes it can be a bed in a different town on a different night, it can involve barrack-like shared dormitories — “like being in the army,” as one homeless person put it. And the scheme is in place only for the winter. The money runs out on March 31.

In Salford a group of homeless people found their own solution.
In November last year they took over an empty building, a disused surgery which was previously a GP practice. It has stood empty for nine years and is owned by the NHS.

The homeless people turned it into a collective home. Today there are 15 of them.

The occupation is changing their lives. Some have problems including alcohol and drug dependency, mental health issues. But having a base means there’s a central point at which help can be given from social services, the local community and organisations such as the Salvation Army.

Food and clothing began to be donated.

Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre became involved. It has access to counselling and professional help for those with addiction and other problems.

Help is also being given with finding permanent homes and jobs. And of key importance is the help the homeless people give each other.

Now there’s a problem. The NHS wants to repossess the building and sell it.

Court action has been launched to evict the occupiers who are fighting to keep their home, with support from local volunteers and organisations including the resource centre.

Steve Agnew is one of the residents. He is 38, and has been homeless on and off since he was a child.

“I’ve lived on the streets, lived in squats, stuff like that,” he said.

“But there’s been nothing like this though. I moved in just before Christmas. I’ve lived in squats before. It can be a bit of a hassle, bailiffs and stuff.

“But this is different. It’s not a squat. I would say it’s a home. On the streets you’re having to cope day to day. But people come here and get a couple of nights proper sleep, food. They can think about how to get their lives together. This is helping people move on.”

Steve, who suffers from anxiety and depression, had a job interview this week, organised through the unemployed centre.

Stacey Martindale, who is 32, fell through Andy Burnham’s “a bed every night” safety net because she has a dog but with help, she’s found a new home and a job. She has been reunited with her 16-year-old son.

But the legal action for eviction is rumbling on. The next court hearing is on April 23.

To support the group’s efforts to stay in their home contact Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre at secretary_stuc@hotmail.co.uk

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